THE WORKS OF JOHN BAPTIST

PORTA OF NAPLES

ON NATURAL MAGIC

BOOK THE FIRST.

What Natural Magic is.

CHAPTER I.

A large decorative woodcut initial 'M' depicting a seated figure, likely a scholar or saint, at a desk within an ornate frame of scrolling foliage and architectural elements.

Porphyry and Apuleius, notable figures among the Platonists, assert that Magic derived its name and origin from Persia; although Suidas thinks it was drawn from the Maguseans. They call those "Magi" whom the Latins call Sages, the Greeks call Philosophers after the name of Pythagoras, the Indians call Gymnosophists literally "naked philosophers," a group of ancient Indian ascetics known for their wisdom and simple living in Greek, the Egyptians call Priests, the Cabalists call Prophets, the Babylonians as well as the Assyrians call Chaldeans, and the Celts of Gaul call Druids and Bards, who were also called Semnothei original: "Semnothei," a term used by ancient writers to describe the venerable status of Celtic or Ethiopian philosophers: and in the end, Magic overflows with diverse names among diverse nations. We find that many men most skilled in the nature of things have shone in this art, such as Zoroaster the son of Oromasius among the Persians, Numa Pompilius among the Romans, Thespion among the Gymnosophists, Hermes among the Egyptians, Buddha among the Babylonians, sorcerers original: "γόητας" (goētas) Zamolxis among the Thracians, among the Assyrians and Abaris among the Hyperboreans. They divide Magic into two parts: one is infamous and composed of the incantations of unclean spirits, fashioned from a wicked curiosity, which the Greeks of more hidden literature call sorcery original: "γοητείαν" (goēteian) or Theurgy the practice of rituals intended to invoke the presence of gods or spirits, to which all are opposed, as it offers up illusions and phantoms of which no trace soon remains. For—